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Are pre-Christmas sales really such a bargain?
There was a time when we shopped for the festive season keeping some powder dry for the Boxing Day sales. But in recent years the US tradition of ‘Black Friday’ sales, which kick off on 26 November, have arrived in Australia, meaning the spend-fest gets underway a whole lot sooner.
Comparison site Finder estimates almost one in two Australians will fork out cash on pre-Christmas sales, with a whopping $3.8 billion expected to be spent over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend.
But before going ham for the bargains, it’s worth thinking about what’s really on offer. Now’s the time to check out regular retail prices so you know exactly how much of a genuine discount you’re getting. Compare prices with websites like Google Shopping or price comparison apps like Shopular and ShopSavvy.
If you’re shopping online, allow for freight costs. And if you’re paying with a credit card on an overseas website, be aware that foreign exchange fees can be worth 3% of the transaction. These fees coupled with freight can quickly take the shine off a bargain.
It’s also worth watching for pricing gimmicks that encourage us to think we’re getting a better deal than we really are.
It’s a no-brainer for instance, that a product selling for $1.99 is more attractive than one priced at $2.00. But a study by the University of Chicago found shoppers pay a disproportionate amount of attention to the leftmost digits in prices when it comes to deciding what’s a bargain, and what’s overpriced.
In one experiment, participants were given a choice of two pens, one priced at $2.00 and the other at $3.99. Almost half the participants chose the higher-priced pen. It’s a mind trick that scientists call ‘the left digit effect’ – and the study found it also impacts our decisions when shopping for higher value purchases, making it easy to spend more than necessary.
As the hype around pre-Christmas sales reaches fever pitch, it’s always worth remembering that a purchase isn’t a bargain if you don’t really need the item. With this in mind, make a list of buys you need and stick to it.
If you’re unsure whether Aunt Ethel will be thrilled to receive that heavily discounted angle grinder you picked up (hot tip: she probably won't), it can pay to stick to tried and tested Christmas gifts. It may not mean scoring a massive bargain, but it won’t see you (or Aunt Ethel) queueing for a refund on Boxing Day either.
Paul Clitheroe is Chairman of InvestSMART, Chair of the Ecstra Foundation and chief commentator for Money Magazine.


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October 7, 2020. Child laborers have been rescued by police from cocoa plantations in Côte d'Ivoire. The owners were arrested.
“We conducted this operation this morning in the two major cocoa-producing cities, “ Police Commissioner Luc Zaka said.
The children were shelling cocoa pods.
In December 2019 Ivorian police rescued more than a hundred children from cocoa plantations during a similar operation in the east of the country.
More than one million children work illegally on cocoa plantations in Côte d'Ivoire, a figure that has been rising steadily over the last decade.
Cocoa is used for the manufacture of chocolate, drinking chocolate and other chocolate drinks.

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Stallholders and business are hoping shoppers will be flocking to Market Rasen today as the town hold's its first new big market there . It received 100 thousand pounds of investment and advice from retail expert Mary Portas on how to revamp its town centre.
More top news
Residents in parts of Doncaster who have been without tap water since yesterday afternoon have now been told it's safe to use if boiled.
Weekend weather update : Next 48 hours sunshine and showers
The 5p charge for a single-use carrier bag has had a clear impact on shoppers' behaviour, six months after being introduced.


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Data on producer prices shows that overall inflation pressure eased further in February, as a gain in goods prices was restrained by the service sector. Industry detail showed that overall trucking rates declined in February, led by the largest decline in long-distance truckload rates in four years.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the producer price index (PPI) rose 0.1 percent in February from January’s levels. This fell short of consensus estimates of a 0.2 percent gain and follows a 0.1 percent decline in the previous month. Growth during the month was driven by gains in goods prices, which rose 0.4 percent. Prices received by service companies were flat during the month, leading to the overall soft readings for wholesale inflation. The so-called “core” PPI, which excludes energy, food and trade services, also rose 0.1 percent as year-over-year growth fell to 2.3 percent..
Market watchers and policymakers typically use the PPI to gain some insight into what the underlying pressures of inflation are in the economy. The PPI measures the prices that businesses receive for the goods and services that they provide, and is often seen as a bellwether of upcoming increases in consumer prices. Trends in producer price inflation have softened significantly over the past several months, relieving much of the underlying inflation pressure in the economy.
Trucking rates decline, led by a decline in long-distance trucking
Industry detail in this morning’s release showed some softening in the trucking industry. Producer prices for General Freight Trucking fell 0.3 percent in February from January’s levels, following a 0.7 percent gain in the previous month. As a result, year-over-year rate inflation in the industry fell to a ten-month low of 7.0 percent, down from the 7.9 percent reading in January.
Details in the trucking industry show that the decline was almost entirely driven by long-distance truckload services, which fell by 1.0 percent in February. This marks the second consecutive decline in rates for long-distance truckload services and is the largest monthly drop since February 2015. Year-over-year growth for long-distance trucking slipped to 6.4 percent, down from 8.3% in January. Local rates rose by a solid 1.2 percent during the month, while long-distance less-than-truckload (LTL) managed to eke out a modest 0.2 percent gain.
Behind the Numbers
February’s headline results continue a generally softening trend for inflation that has emerged over the last several months. Core PPI inflation hit a multi-year high back in September 2018 but has fallen by almost a full percentage point since then. There were already questions about whether the Fed should be raising rates at all when the inflation data was much stronger in the middle of last year, and further increases are likely off of the table for the near future given the soft PPI and CPI data. After February’s big miss in the jobs data, it seems just as likely now that the Fed will reverse course and drop interest rates as it is that they increase further in the next couple of quarters.
On the trucking side, the long-distance trucking readings aren’t terribly surprising, though the magnitude of the decline was eye-catching. FreightWaves has been predicting a moderation in rate inflation in the for-hire trucking industry for the past few months, and February’s data suggests that this moderation is well underway. Carriers spent the better part of 2018 scrambling to add capacity in the industry, after the trucking shortage was exposed by the strength in the goods side of the economy. This increased capacity has been met with slowing demand growth in the economy, particularly during this first quarter in 2019, which has put downward pressure on rates in the trucking industry. Recent data on new orders suggest that the economy may soon find its footing, but we expect that year-over-year growth will continue to moderate through 2019.
Ibrahiim Bayaan is FreightWaves’ Chief Economist. He writes regularly on all aspects of the economy and provides context with original research and analytics on freight market trends. Never miss his commentary by subscribing.


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The owners of Atkins Nutritionals Inc. will receive more than $730 million in a deal with a Connecticut firm to make the Denver firm public.
Conyers Park Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CPAA), which went public last year and was formed by former executives of some of the biggest companies in the world, said it will combine with Atkins to form The Simply Good Foods Company. The Denver-based company's shares will trade on the Nasdaq exchange under the symbol "SMPL" and will have an anticipated initial enterprise value of approximately $856 million.
Jim Kilts of Conyers Park, who previously was the CEO of The Gillette Company and Nabisco, will serve as chairman of The Simply Good Foods Company. Joseph Scalzo, current CEO of Atkins, will continue in that role and lead the new company.
"I am excited to help build the Atkins brand and its promise of simply good and nutritious food. ... We plan to add to our Simply Good Foods portfolio over time with brands that bring simple goodness, happiness and positive experiences to consumers and their families," Kilts said in a statement.
Read more at the Denver Business Journal: http://bit.ly/2pq21Xi


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Phoenix, AZ—Sprouts Farmers Market has been named the WholeFoods Retailer of the Year for 2013. A chain of neighborhood grocery stores with the feel of an old-fashioned farmers market, Sprouts has 155 locations and counting as of April 2013. Customers can find everyday staples and value-priced specialty items in every bright and friendly store, says the company.
New Chapter of Brattleboro, VT hosted a seminar to help clear up any rumors over the recent investment of Procter and Gamble (P&G) in the company. “We’re here to share our truth,” said Paul Schulick, founder of New Chapter, with CEO Kyle Garner nodding at his side.
The Beer, Wine and Spirits Marketplace at Expo West hosted 23 companies showcasing new and interesting products, representing what the natural alcoholic beverage section of the industry has to offer from all over Europe and the United States.
The second annual Hall of Legends induction ceremony, honoring pioneers and influential figures in the natural products industry, was held after Expo West show hours on March 8. This year’s class of nine inductees included:


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In February of this year, Microsoft finally announced the successor to its augmented reality headset, the HoloLens 2. The new version of the device includes better weight distribution for more comfort, a new carbon fiber build, a wider field of view, and support for finger tracking. The device is also powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 850, rather than the Intel chip used in the original HoloLens.
The device was first aimed at businesses, with only the commercial edition being announced. More recently, the company announced the Development Edition, saying it would be available later in the year. Now, according to the company's executive vice president Harry Shum, it looks like the HoloLens 2 will be available to buy in September, as reported by Reuters.
The statement was made by Shum while speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, which is taking place in Shanghai. However, a more specific release date wasn't given. The timeframe does fall in line with reports from late last year, before the device was even announced.
The HoloLens 2 Development Edition will cost $3,500, which is a bit more than the original model's cost. According to previous announcements, though, the headset will be available to buy in plans for around $99 per month.
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Albertsons Cos. makes move on guns
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. has joined the ever-growing list of retailers that are asking customers not to openly carry firearms in their stores.
According to a tweet from the retailer, in order for its grocery stores to continuously feel safe and welcoming, Albertsons asks that the open carry policy only pertain to authorized law enforcement officers.
After incidents of deadly gun violence at two retail locations, retailers are taking gun control into their own hands. Walmart revealed that it would discontinue sales of short-barrel rifle ammunition that could be used in large capacity clips on military-style weapons, as well as sell-through and discontinue handgun ammunition, and discontinue handgun sales in Alaska, marking the mega-retailer’s complete exit from handguns.
“We know these decisions will inconvenience some of our customers, and we hope they will understand,” Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon wrote in a letter posted on the company’s corporate website. “As a company, we experienced two horrific events in one week, and we will never be the same. Our remaining assortment will be even more focused on the needs of hunting and sport shooting enthusiasts. It will include long-barrel deer rifles and shotguns, much of the ammunition they require, as well as hunting and sporting accessories and apparel.”
This isn't the first time that the retailers have responded to gun violence: Following the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla., Walmart and Kroger's Fred Meyer chain raised the minimum age for buying firearms and ammunition in their stores to 21, before the latter banner discontinued gun sales entirely.
“As it relates to safety in our stores, there have been multiple incidents since El Paso where individuals attempting to make a statement and test our response have entered our stores carrying weapons in a way that frightened or concerned our associates and customers,” McMillon said in the letter. “We have also had well-intentioned customers acting lawfully that have inadvertently caused a store to be evacuated and local law enforcement to be called to respond.”


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Resident Evil 6 Officially Confirmed
Posted on Thursday, January 19 @ 14:20:00 PST by Daniel Bischoff
Capcom just sent over an official press release officially making Resident Evil's official sequel official.... official Resident Evil 6 official, official.
SO YEAH, Resident Evil 6 is coming to Xbox 360 and PS3 on November 20th, 2012 with a PC version to come later. Set 10 years since the Raccoon City incident, Resident Evil 6 puts Leon S Kennedy and Chris Redfield together for the first time:
Ahhhh, get it?! Like the whole viral campaign they have going on?! Katsuhiko Ichii, Head of R&D and Global Marketing has said:
Nick Tan will be at Capcom's Fright Night later this evening and hopefully scaring up some further details.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.
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Qwiki Raises, Like, $1 Million More
Additional Series A Investment from Groupon Co-Founders Brings Total Raise to $10.5 Million
Mar 31, 2011, 11:01 ET
SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Qwiki, Inc. announced today that it has raised an additional $1 million in financing from Lightbank, the investment fund of Groupon co-founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky. This brings the company's total amount raised to $10.5 million.
Qwiki CEO and Founder, Doug Imbruce, says, "We are obviously excited to work with Eric and Brad. They have invaluable experience in building large-scale consumer facing Internet companies and the ability to accelerate Qwiki's product roadmap. In seeking to surround Qwiki with results oriented investors, Lightbank is a perfect fit."
Brad Keywell, Co-Founder of Lightbank, says, "Doug and the Qwiki team are solving a real problem with a technically innovative and scalable solution that applies to multiple verticals. We are looking forward to working with them as they accelerate the expansion of their business."
Qwiki's prior $9.5 million in funding was led by Eduardo Saverin (co-founder, Facebook), and includes Jawed Karim (co-founder, Youtube), Pradeep Sindhu (co-founder, Juniper Networks), Bobby Yazdani, Lerer Media Ventures, Tugboat Ventures, and Contour Venture Partners.
About Qwiki, Inc.
Qwiki was co-founded by entrepreneur Doug Imbruce and Internet industry pioneer Dr. Louis Monier (founder of AltaVista). The company's technology transforms data into interactive, rich-media narratives, delivering an "information experience." Qwiki debuted in September 2010 at the TechCrunch Disrupt Conference, where it won the TechCrunch Disrupt Cup. The company has raised a total of $10.5 million in funding to date. To learn more, please visit www.qwiki.com. Twitter: @Qwiki. Facebook: http://qwi.ki/fITVSS.
Lightbank is a Chicago-based fund focused on early-stage technology companies. Founded by Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell, who founded Groupon, MediaBank, InnerWorkings and Echo Global Logistics, Lightbank invests money, time and expertise to help innovative businesses achieve dynamic growth. For more information, visit http://www.lightbank.com.
SOURCE Qwiki, Inc.
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- Our Blog
This week, Digiday–together with Hilton and its agency, iCrossing– sifted through more than 40 entrants to our inaugural Startup Challenge. Now, we are proud to announce the six semifinalists who will be pitching their technology to Hilton at our Platform Summit in Half Moon Bay, Calif., next week.
The post On the agenda at DPS: ...
The post On the agenda at DR ...
During the past few years, startups have found a valuable partner in major consumer brands who provide real-world experience and impressive credentials. In exchange, these brands get in on the ground floor of a new technology, before the bidding war begins. This year, Digiday will bring together Hilton Hotels with a hungry tech startup to solve a marketing problem.
The post On Stage at Dig ...
It might not officially be summer just yet, but we know you can already hear the call of the ocean. Luckily, the Digiday Platform Summit is coming to the coast this year in Half Moon Bay, Calif. The conference will combine speakers from top platforms, brands and publishers and provide diverse perspectives on the ever-evolving quest to reach consumers on digital platforms.


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‘Significant growth by 100 percent’
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 15, (KUNA): The volume of trade between Kuwait and Qatar has surged to $360 million in 2017, a significant growth by 100 percent, compared to $173 million in 2016, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced Monday.
Meanwhile, KCCI mentioned, in a press statement, its hosting earlier of the Qatari-Kuwaiti Business Forum, which is organized by Qatar Development Bank in partnership with Ernst and Young Global Limited.
The two-day event is part of preparing a study on the Kuwaiti market to evaluate commercial opportunities available in vital industries such as plastic, aluminum, iron, medicine, food, oil, and gas, it said. KCCI’s board member Wafa Al-Qatami represented the Kuwaiti side at the forum, while the Qatari side was represented by Hassan Al-Mansouri, Executive Director of Qatar Export Development Agency “Tasdeer”, added the statement.
Al-Qatami, also head of KCCI’s financial and investment committee, said the event tends to enhance investment and commercial ties between Kuwait and Qatar, noting the Kuwaiti business sector closely follows, with pride and appreciation, the Qatari economy and its successes in establishing solid and advanced economic foundation through best use of the country’s natural resources, geographic location, and modern infrastructure.
The Qatari business sector is very familiar with the core components of the Kuwaiti economy, especially after the recent amendments in economic legislations and laws, she said, adding such amendments contributed in improving business and making it more attractive to foreign capitals in Kuwait.
For his part, Al-Mansouri noted that the comprehensive study on the Kuwaiti market, conducted by QDB, focused on the private sector’s products by Qatari small and mediumsized enterprises, adding around 38 products have been evaluated and founded to have attractive exporting qualities and ability to compete in the Kuwaiti market.


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Niagara winery ranks in top 400 businesses in Canada Two Sisters Vineyards, based in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has ranked #260...
Niagara College complex a boost for agri-food and agri-business
Minister of Tourism announced investment for six local projects.
Maclean's has ranked some of the top communities in Canada to live in
Tregunno Farms using new grading system to assist with fruit packaging
Trius focuses on capturing the entire experience, rather than just the wine
Niagara on the Lake businesses are highlighted in The New York Times
Niagara winery on the Olympic stage with new partnership
Government support for growing industry during Ontario Cider Month
Brock's Goodman school of Business adds new wine certificate


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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released its 2018 Canadian Agricultural Outlook, which provides a forecast of the country's ag sector's financial performance
Ottawa – It looks like the future is bright for Canada’s agriculture sector, according to the latest Canadian Agricultural Outlook from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
AAFC announced the release of the report in a statement, adding that “a growing world population, the rise in disposable income in developing nations, and increasing trade in farm products present opportunities to further grow” Canada’s ag sector. This means more jobs for the country’s middle class.
Some of the reports findings include that Canadian exports of agriculture, agri-food, fish and seafood to all countries in 2017 rose to $64.6 billion from 2016 exports – that’s an increase of $2 billion.
The report provides a forecast of farm income in the agricultural sector for 2017 and 2018, and looks ahead to longer-term trends that could impact the agriculture sector, says the AAFC website.
Canada’s producers should expect “to see record farm income levels in 2017 and near-record levels in 2018,” says the statement. Crop and livestock receipts are also set to increase in 2017 and 2018.
Net cash income “is forecast to reach a record level in 2017 and remain high in 2018,” says AAFC, and at the same time, “continued growth in asset values is expected to raise average farm net worth to $3.16 million by 2018.”
Also, says the statement, Budget 2018 contains initiatives for agriculture and investments to help farm families and agri-food processors grow, including:
For more on the 2018 Canadian Agricultural Outlook, click here.
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British consumer watchdog group Consumers' Association, publishers of Which? magazines and books, on Wednesday announced that they've written to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) alleging that Apple may be unfairly pricing songs sold through the UK version of its iTunes &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/fun/2001/09/27/16348.html' target=_blank>Music Store.
But they appear to be one of the few people who think so, if the comments of the organization's own head of policy is any indication. While Apple sells songs in Germany and France for Ђ0.99, it sells songs in the UK for Ј0.79, or about Ђ1.20.
"Under &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2003/11/18/51337.html ' target=_blank>European law UK consumers are supposed to enjoy the same benefits of the single market as other citizens of member states.
However, the iTunes service is set up in a way that prevents UK consumers from taking advantage of the cheaper download service offered to the French and Germans -- UK consumers need to have a registered address and payment mechanisms in France or Germany to access the service or pay the higher price charged in the UK," said the group in a statement, MacWorld News reported.
According to the Forbes, "There appears to be considerable evidence that the iTunes set-up is prejudiced against the U.K. public and distorts the very basis of the single market," said Phil Evans of the Consumers' Association.
"The underlying economic model in each country has an impact on how we price our track downloads," Apple said in a statement.


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Chuwi LapBook Air 14.1 has a cool design, but quality is lagging [Review]
Chuwi has managed to attract quite a bit of attention with its laptops and tablets. The LapBook 14.1 that I reviewed early last year was great, thanks to a nice mix of features and performance. But now there's a new kid on the block, which looks even more impressive.
It's called the LapBook Air 14.1 and it supersedes the LapBook 14.1 in the company's lineup. Compared to the old model, it adds a metal build, more RAM and more storage, but a higher price tag too. On paper, it looks like a killer combination, but what's it actually like to use? I've tested it to find out.
iOS 11.3 lets iPhone users disable performance throttling
Apple has damaged its reputation by secretly throttling the performance of aging iPhones. The smartphone maker says that it took this course to prevent a drop in battery life, though many folks believe that the reason was to get customers to switch to a newer model. Still, CEO Tim Cook promised that iPhone users would soon be able to opt out.
And, today, the iPhone maker officially reveals that this feature will be introduced in iOS 11.3. This version of the mobile operating system is currently in preview and it will be rolled out "this spring."
Crypto exchange bitFlyer lands in Europe
BitFlyer, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, is now available in Europe, after receiving a license to operate in the EU. The Japan-based company, which has a daily volume in excess of $260 million, claims that it's "the most compliant virtual currency exchange in the world," as a result.
BitFlyer first opened its doors to Japanese crypto enthusiasts and expanded in the US last year. In 2017, it reached a volume of over $250billion from cryptocurrency trades, mainly in Bitcoin.
VAVA Dash Cam offers great video quality in an usual-looking package [Review]
When designing a dash cam it's easy for manufacturers to focus more on features rather than benefits. That's why we end up with so many devices that look bland, have pretty much the same features, but lack that special touch to set them apart from the crowd. With its new dash cam, VAVA decided to do things differently.
The VAVA Dash Cam is an intriguing proposition, featuring a cylindrical design and a magnetic mount connection, but no display or physical buttons. However, it's not lacking in features, as it packs lots of useful functionality. But how well does it work? I've tested it to find out.
Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac gets major update with real-time collaborative editing, cloud saving
Since you can get Office on both Windows PCs and Macs, you may be lead to believe that the user experience is similar between the two suites. After all, they share the same name and major programs, like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. But, when you look past the similarities, you will find that there are quite a few differences between the two.
Microsoft has been working on closing the gap, with the latest update for Office for Mac 2016 adding quite some powerful features. Among the highlights are real-time collaborative editing and the option to save your work directly to the cloud.
Huawei will preload Android Messages on its Android smartphones
After you've used a messaging app, it's hard to go back to SMS. You can't share files, get read receipts, group chats or share emoji. It's archaic, but the good news is that there is an alternative.
It's called Rich Communication Services and it offers many of the features that we have come to love on messaging apps. Google is one of the biggest adopters, offering support for RCS in its Android Messages app. And, today, it announces that Huawei, one of the largest Android vendors, will integrate it in its Android smartphones.
Microsoft brings Surface Book 2 to more markets
Microsoft today announces that it is expanding the availability of the Surface Book 2 to include all the markets where it currently sells Surface devices.
The Surface Book 2 was launched in mid-October of last year, making the 13-inch version available in more markets than its 15-inch counterpart. This latest move will slowly change that.
Crypto market enters deep correction -- over $200bn wiped out
A new correction is taking place in the crypto market, after South Korea and China indicated that they could introduce new regulations to crack down on investments and centralized trading, respectively.
South Korea is one of the biggest cryptocurrency markets, being responsible for a large part of the daily volume for the major coins and home to some of the most important exchanges, like Upbit and Bithumb.
OnePlus investigating credit card fraud reports
A number of OnePlus customers have reported unusual credit card transactions after buying products from the smartphone maker's online store. And, today, OnePlus announces a formal investigation.
OnePlus reveals that the complaints come only from users who have made direct purchases and adds that purchases involving third-party services -- PayPal, for example -- are not affected.
PC market is up... or down -- what would you like to hear?
Boy, do we have something for everyone today. If you think the PC market has no future and that it's all going downhill, you're going to love this story. If, on the other hand, you think that there's hope and that people are still loving the PC, guess what? You're going to love it too!
You must be sitting there confused, wondering what the heck I am on about. It can't be both, right? Well, no, but if you read the latest reports on PC shipments in Q4 2017 from IDC and Gartner you are going to get that impression. IDC thinks we've just had the first growth quarter in six years, while Gartner claims shipments are down year over year. Isn't this interesting?
macOS High Sierra lets you unlock App Store preferences with any password
Most of the security vulnerabilities we write about are hard to exploit by the average computer user. I consider myself fairly experienced but, honestly, without a step by step guide I would not be able to "hack" a program or operating system even with the full bug report in front of me. And even then I probably would not know what to do to get any meaningful data from it anyway.
But some security vulnerabilities are so easy to exploit that anyone can do it. Unlocking the App Store menu in System Preferences on macOS High Sierra 10.13 is one of them.
Windows 8.1 enters extended support: What can you expect?
Microsoft has ended mainstream support for Windows 8.1, more than five years after its debut. The operating system, which was offered as a free upgrade to Windows 8 users, has moved to the extended support phase, in which it will continue to receive updates, albeit in a more limited fashion.
During mainstream support, which ended January 9, Microsoft provided security and non-security updates and accepted requests for product changes. Extended support means that the average Windows 8.1 user will only receive security updates.
WPA3 will boost Wi-Fi security and privacy
Wi-Fi Protected Access is commonly used to secure Wi-Fi connections between pretty much all devices that we use nowadays. For many of us, WPA2 -- the most-recent version of the protocol -- is what we tick to make our router's wireless network private. But, pretty soon, there will be a new option available.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced the introduction of WPA3, which will be available for both personal and enterprise Wi-Fi devices this year. The big additions over its predecessor, for which certifications began in late-2004, are improved security and privacy.
Apple releases iOS 11.2.2 and macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 updates to protect against Spectre vulnerability
Following the Meltdown and Spectre revelations, let's just say that 2018 is off to a bad start for many tech companies. Apple is among the biggest players affected by the two security vulnerabilities, with all iOS and Mac users at risk.
The company was quick to patch Meltdown, however, with iOS 11.2, macOS 10.13.2 and tvOS 11.2 getting mitigations against the vulnerability. And, now, it's tackling Spectre too through new updates for its major operating systems.
Windows 10 manufacturers will preload Alexa on new PCs
Amazon and Microsoft said that Alexa and Cortana would be able to talk to each other by the end of the 2017, but the two personal assistants have yet to receive this functionality until today. However, even without Cortana's help, Alexa is making a big leap forward in the Windows space.
Amazon has teamed up with leading PC manufacturers Acer, ASUS, Lenovo and HP to include its personal assistant on new Windows 10 devices that will arrive in 2018.


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Legendary investor and billionaire Charlie Munger, known as the right-hand man of Warren Buffet who helped build investment powerhouse Berkshire Hathaway, has passed away at 99 years of age.
Munger’s family informed Berkshire “that he peacefully died this morning at a California hospital,” according to a company announcement on Nov. 28.
Munger, who served as vice chairman at Buffet’s empire since 1978, accumulated a net worth of $2.6 billion and was routinely praised for adopting a sound investment and stock-picking philosophy throughout his tenure at Berkshire.
While Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies weren’t favored investments for Munger and Buffet, who once referred to Bitcoin (BTC) as “rat poison” and “rat poison squared,” crypto traders could still benefit from Munger’s learnings over his 60 years of investing experience. Here are some approaches to investment that Munger swore by:
Only invest in what you know
Munger said Berkshire Hathaway would often categorize stocks into one of three baskets when evaluating a potential investment.
“We have three baskets for investing: yes, no, and too tough to understand.”
The latter could explain why Munger and Buffet never invested in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, but the takeaway message is that they avoided investing in what they didn’t know.
Buffet has previously admitted he and Munger — both regarded as tech skeptics — were “too dumb to realize” the potential of Amazon’s e-commerce business in the 1990s and underestimated the company’s founder, Jeff Bezos.
Berkshire didn’t invest in Microsoft or Google either. “We blew it,” Munger once said, reflecting on the firm’s decision not to invest in Google.
Despite that, Berkshire stuck to the sectors it knew inside out, such as the banking and food and beverage sectors, making huge profits from investments in Bank of America, American Express, Coca-Cola Co, and later Apple after initially deciding not to invest in it.
Munger and Buffet also mastered the art of valuation by interrogating a firm’s balance sheet before making an investment decision, which Munger once said is the only intelligent way to invest.
“All intelligent investing is value investing […] You must value the business in order to value the stock.”
While blockchains and protocols can’t often be valued via a discounted cash flow model or other traditional methods, plenty of insights can be obtained from on-chain data — from the number of daily active…


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SoftBank probes smear campaign against Nikesh Arora
The committee, comprising directors on the board of the group, will examine the allegations, including those against former SoftBank president Nikesh Arora.
New deal may help Lenskart touch Rs 3,000-crore valuation
“Lenskart is now a growth-stage company, which became EBITDA positive in December l...
Paytm in talks to acquire travel company Via.com
Paytm, which raised $1.4 billion from SoftBank in May, has held preliminary discussions alth...
Racing against Flipkart, Amazon pumps record capital into India
The frequent capital infusions indicate Amazon India’s increased spending, or cash burn, towards acquiring new customers and growing market share.
Amul, BigBasket among firms getting government approval to set 101 cold chain projects
"We have sanctioned 101 new cold chain projects across the country with a capacity of 2.76 lakh tonnes. Wastages are high due to lack of cold chain infrastructure," Badal said.
Singapore slings? Taking on Alibaba, Amazon launches Prime Now in the city state
While Amazon does deliver to Singapore, higher-end services had not been available, such as Prime services which include access to the company's video-streaming service.
Alibaba all set to put $300 million in BigBasket
The deal price was expected to be about $200 mn. This has since increased as BigBasket looks to build a bigger war chest to compete with US-based Amazon as well as India’s Flipkart.
E-grocer BigBasket starts selling to kiranas and hotels
The development comes about two months after it launched its specialty food business under the marketplace model.
Tomato sliced out of McDonald's burgers
US burger chain McDonald's has stopped using sliced tomatoes in its products in North and East India due to concerns over poor quality of the crop. Senior executives at McDonald's India said the move to curtail the use of tomatoes in its offerings was not the result of high prices, but poor quality.
Kishore Biyani introduces next generation Big Bazaar, predicts death for online grocery players
Since the last few weeks, Biyani has been making a whistle-stop tour across most of the 110 cities where the retail chain has a presence.
Paytm Mall looks to raise Rs 4,000 crore
“Paytm Mall is planning to close the new round of funding by end of this year and is talking to financial investors from Asia and the US,” said one person close to the development.
Bengaluru based BigBasket to set up small warehouses across the country
BigBasket is setting up a number of small warehouses across the country to be able to ship orders faster under its express delivery service.
Here's why groceries are the biggest untapped e-commerce opportunity
At $600 billion a year, food and beverage (F & B) is the largest retail category in the US but only 1 pc of F & B sales currently occur online.
Grocery startups: Subscription-based services may prove cost-efficient
A few new seedlings are reinventing the online grocery delivery model with subscription-based services to get a handle on cost-efficiency and unit economics.
Localbanya operations begin in Delhi
The company had launched a highly visible advertising campaign in Delhi, which also helped it build a database of potential customers.
Copyright © 2020 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service


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A week ago we discovered that a 69-year-old grandmother whom was looking to spend an enjoyable trip to Disney World ended up being rather arrested for holding the CBD oil she utilized to deal with her joint disease.
You understand it is a vacation that is rough truly the only fast-pass you will get will be the Orange County Jail.
And that is what Hester Jordan Burkhalter got — a 12-hour stop by at “It’s A little mobile all things considered.”
The news headlines prompted headlines that are worldwide. And confusion.
In the end, just a year ago most of us read stories with headlines like, “Trump indications farm bill, legalizes CBD.”
So CBD is legal in the usa, but illegal in Florida?
Now, i understand individuals state gooey dark matter Florida is similar to a different country. Continue reading “After grandma’s arrested, jailed at Disney to carry CBD oil, we search for answers about Florida’s medical cannabis rules | Commentary”


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Capcom has confirmed four video game titles that will be present at their TGS booth.
Gamescom attendees get to experience a demo of scares from down South.
So long rage quitters.
A free demo will come out for the game on August 25th!
Could Capcom show off Deep Down at the Tokyo Game Show?
"NPD’s Digital Games Tracking Service is the first service to provide the U.S. gaming industry with publisher-sourced data on digital game sales"
Pick up Resident Evil 4 on August 30th.
Capcom releasing a demo patch?
Detailed rundown for free and paid DLC releasing next month for Capcom's Street Fighter V.
Resident Evil 7's producer Masachika Kawata and director Kōshi Nakanishi answer some questions about the game
Capcom officially launches Balrog character reveal trailer.
Kazunori Kadoi may be directing the remake.
Capcom will support Umbrella Corps with free post-launch DLC.
There's a lot of new content coming to Street Fighter 5 this month.
Resident Evil 7 is nearly halfway done with development.
Dead Rising 4 may be heading to PlayStation 4 after Microsoft's one year deal.
The demo is standalone to showcase the horror aspect of Resident Evil 7.
Resident Evil 7 graces old school survival-horror fans.
Time to cover another war with Frank West.
FANTASTIC Return of Frank West!
Could we see a Skyrim remaster announcement at E3?
New reports suggest Dead Rising 4 will be Dead Rising remake.
"We apologize to our players all over the globe for not communicating this change to our release schedule sooner."
Resident Evil 5 will come with updated framerate and 1080p resolution.


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Sprint Nextel Videos
All Four Major Carriers Halt Samsung Note7 Sales, Exchanges
The announcements come amid more reports of smoking and flaming devices.
Historic Wins For the United States
Runner Usain Bolt goes for his eighth gold medal plus get an inside look at the American women who have swept the track and field events.
What Records Prince Bought on His Final Trip to Electric Fetus Record Store
ABC News' Charli James visits Electric Fetus record store where Prince reportedly visited the weekend before he died.
Netflix Admits to Downgrading Itself on Wireless Networks
Netflix has been lowering video quality in an attempt to protect consumers from exceeding mobile data caps.
Facebook Connects With Brussels
Facebook activates its 'safety check' feature that allows users affected by a disaster to alert their friends that they're safe.
Sarah Palin Praises Donald Trump with Endorsement
The reality star appears before Republicans in Iowa to endorse the presidential front-runner nearly two weeks away from the Iowa Caucus.
How Cellphone Provider Price Wars Could Reduce Your Bill
It's that time of year when cell phone providers are bombarding us with great deals they say to switch services and price wars are break out. You could be a big winner and we were saying free data for life? Is it for real. It is for real somewhat. Doesn't it feel like cell phone plans drain our
Great Black Friday Deals On Smartphones
Discounts on Apple smartphones from Target when you sign up with AT&T, Verizon or Sprint.
Smartphone Wars Heating Up
Apple sets a record, selling more than 13 million iPhones in just three days, find out how you can buy a new iPhone for just $1 a month.
Hackers Post Stolen Ashley Madison Data
Personal information from up to 37 million Ashely Madison users was released.


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by Eric Hagen
A much smaller percentage of Andover’s tax base is commercial and industrial compared with the neighboring communities of Anoka, Blaine and Coon Rapids.
To boost that percentage by further developing areas already planned for commercial redevelopment, the Andover Economic Development Authority (EDA) unanimously decided to hire the McComb Group, Ltd., Minneapolis, to conduct a retail market analysis to determine what kind of businesses are needed in Andover. The cost of this study is $29,750.
Although Andover staff have worked on marketing initiatives on their own, City Administrator Jim Dickinson said the city has not done a retail market analysis in the 11 years he has worked for the city.
“They’ll give us a lay of the land and feedback on overall market indicators and what would complement current businesses,” Dickinson said.
Andover’s Community Development Director David Carlberg was working with the city of Cambridge when it did a retail market analysis. What these studies do is look at the retail businesses that exist in the community today, look at what is available in neighboring cities and recommends what type of businesses have a market in Andover, according to Carlberg.
For example, Carlberg said the retail market analysis may show that another grocery store or home improvement store is needed in an area of the community. The study will be focusing on three particular areas of Andover – Bunker Lake Boulevard between Round Lake and Hanson boulevards, the intersection of Bunker Lake Boulevard and 7th Avenue and the intersection of Hanson and Crosstown boulevards.
Carlberg said the McComb Group will look at how much square footage of space is available in the community for retail and how much square footage of certain businesses is needed. There are dozens of possibilities, beyond the larger grocery store and home improvement store examples. The McComb Group will evaluate the need for stores selling clothing, shoes, electronics, appliances, sporting goods, books, jewelry, hobby items, pet merchandise, optical goods, specialty foods, auto parts and much more. There are well over 100 types of businesses that the McComb Group study will look at when determining what type of market there is for a certain type of store.
“It’s a marketing tool for us,” Carlberg said.
In the past, Carlberg said the city would have just been able to share demographic information to potential developers. While there has been development in Andover and larger businesses are able to do their own analysis to determine if there is a market for their store, Carlberg said this study would be useful for small business owners who are considering relocating to Andover.
When prospective businesses are seeking a loan from a bank, this retail analysis would be a good document to share if this type of business has a market in Andover, Dickinson said.
The fact that a well-known firm like the McComb Group completed the study adds more credibility, Carlberg said. He also likes the fact that the McComb Group will be interviewing business owners and shoppers to get their opinions.
Once the retail market analysis is done, Carlberg said the city would have paper copies available and it would post the study results on the city’s website.
The reason this came up was because the Andover Planning and Zoning Commission was discussing ways to increase the city’s commercial and industrial tax base, which would help the residential tax base.
About 8.2 percent of Andover’s tax base comprises commercial and industrial properties. Anoka, Blaine and Coon Rapids range from 30 percent to 35 percent for commercial/industrial property tax base, Andover staff learned. East Bethel at 9 percent has a higher commercial/industrial tax base than Andover, but Andover’s 2010 population was 30,598 compared with East Bethel’s population of 11,626, so the higher number of residents impacts the overall percentage. However, Andover has a smaller population than Blaine (57,186) and Coon Rapids (61,476).
This study will not include an analysis of industrial needs because the reasons an industrial or office use comes to a city are far different than why a commercial business owner comes in, Dickinson said. The city reads all the business journals and talks with people in the industry to determine who is looking to relocate, he said.
According to Dickinson, this was not a branding study in which Andover would get a new slogan. Unless the city hears a lot of negative feedback on the “Andover Station” slogan, that name will remain, Dickinson said.
Eric Hagen is at [email protected]


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JAMMU, May 22: NSF Bajaj, Satwari, Jammu launched new Pulsar 150 with twin disk brake during a customers’ meet organized today in its premises.
Besides customers, ASDs and Financers were present in the meeting. Speaking on this occasion, Simarbir Singh, Senior Area Sales Manager, Bajaj Auto Limited, said “Apart from a dual disc brake set-up, the new Pulsar 150 twin disc also gets split seats, split grab rails, longer wheelbase and a wider 120mm fatter rear tyre which helps in better road grip.
The new Pulsar 150 twin disc variant has also undergone significant improvements in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) due to optimization of engine and chassis touch points. The NVH improvements on existing and new models are an ongoing process and these have been passed on to consumers in the new twin disc variant of the Pulsar 150.
The new Pulsar 150 twin disc motorcycle is available in a choice of three new colours – Black Blue, Black Red and Black Chrome, with new graphics. Bajaj Pulsar 150 twin disc variant is powered by the 149.5 cc DTS-i engine to returns 14 PS of power and 13.4 Nm of torque.
The other features of the new Pulsar 150 include wolf eyed headlamp with twin pilot lamps, a 15-litre fuel tank, clip-on handlebar, pass switch and electric start. Bajaj Finance Limmited announced an attractive low down payment finance scheme for this model.
NSF Bajaj launches new Pulsar 150 with twin disk brake


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Lykins Oil buys two N.Ky. oil companies
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- Staff Cincinnati Business Courier
Lykins Cos. has purchased two family-owned oil companies in Northern Kentucky's Grant County.
Financial terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed.
The Grant County Oil deal includes the company's bulk plant, commercial/residential and transport/wholesale operations. Lykins also will be taking on Grant County Oil's Marathon-branded supply contract with five Go Fast convenience stores, but Grant County Oil will continue to own and operate the stores themselves.
Jeff Dunaway will join Lykins in a sales, new business development and operations position.
Royce Adams Oil is a bulk plant operator serving home heat, farm, commercial and retail accounts
"These recent acquisitions are part of Lykins’ expansion in the Northern Kentucky market. We chose to purchase these companies because they are family owned and operated and have built solid reputations over the years as trusted suppliers, friends and supporters of the communities they serve in Grant and surrounding counties," said Lykins President Jeff Lykins.
Lykins Cos. had 2010 revenue of $762 million and employs a staff of about 200.
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In 2020, after a four-year wait, Apple finally updated the iPhone SE to the… iPhone SE. Sticking with the same name is a bit confusing — Apple differentiates the new model when necessary by calling it the second generation iPhone SE, but most people call it either the iPhone SE (2020) or the iPhone SE 2.
We currently expect the release of the new iPhone SE (which may be called iPhone SE Plus, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone SE (3rd generation) or iPhone SE 3) in the first half of 2022, most likely in the spring Apple event. Here’s a summary of all the rumors, recent leaks, and other information we’ve been able to gather about the next release of Apple’s most expensive iPhone.
2022 iPhone SE: Latest Rumors
March 4th: Twitter account claims to be Owned by Ming-Chi Kuo Revealed the color, storage and other details.
March 2: Apple has announced that it will hold a “Peek Performance” event on March 8 at 10AM PT.
February 27: iPhone SE May start at $299According to a report in Investors Business Daily,
June 23: In a note to investors seen by MacRumors, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple will position the third generation iPhone SE as “The cheapest iPhone 5G ever.”
2022 iPhone SE: Design and Display
Currently, the most reliable analysts expect that the next iPhone SE will be virtually identical to the current model. Perhaps this is a little disappointing – the iPhone SE is based on the iPhone 8 chassis, which has now been discontinued. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple plans to go ahead with another SE model that will feature a 4.7-inch LCD screen, a home button with Touch ID, and no Face ID. in October, Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants It stated that the next iPhone SE will have the same 4.7-inch screen as the current model, adding that the rumored iPhone SE with a 6.1-inch LCD screen has now been pushed to 2024.
In other words, the next iPhone SE is once again rumored to be based on the iPhone 8 case, with select new components. Nikkei Asia stated in July that the upcoming SE “will look like an updated version of the iPhone 8 and have a 4.7-inch Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) display.”
Apple is also said to be working on an updated version of the iPhone 11, with a 5.7-inch to 6.1-inch LCD screen and Touch ID either in the display or part of the power button, but it will likely be a 2023 or 2024 version. Apple is still selling iPhones 11 for $499, and the new SE with a similar design will directly compete with it at a lower price tag.
The next iPhone SE’s big selling point is said to be the most affordable 5G iPhone ever. The iPhone 12 mini is currently less expensive than the iPhone 5G at $699, so you can expect the iPhone SE to cost less than that, although it might not hold the $399 price tag for the current iPhone SE.
It is unknown if the iPhone SE will support mmWave 5G in addition to the sub-6GHz frequencies. (For more information on what this means, see the 5G FAQ.) The body of the iPhone 8 was never designed for the antenna units needed to receive a good mm wave, although it’s not clear to what degree that might be a problem, or whether Apple easily modified . In July, Nikkei Asia reported that the iPhone SE would use Qualcomm’s X60 modem, the same modem found inside the iPhone 13. Apple’s Japanese website Macotakara echoed the 5G rumor in October. Young too mentioned That the iPhone SE will have 5G.
Apple has historically equipped the iPhone SE with the latest Apple A-series processor, the one used in the latest high-end iPhone models. This means that the third-generation iPhone SE launch in the spring of 2022 will have the same processor as the iPhone 13 launched later this year, which we expect will be the A15, which was reported by Nikkei Asia and Macotakara. However, a report in July from DigiTimes said that Apple would use the A14 Bionic chip in the A12 instead. Both chips will make the SE fast, great value, and eligible for iOS updates for a very long time, as has been the case with previous iPhone SE models. Apple’s cost-cutting comes from the chassis, screen, cameras, and other similar features (don’t expect MagSafe, for example).
Twitter account rOwned by Ming Chi Koo It also mentioned that the phone will come in the same capacities of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB.
2022 iPhone SE: Camera
When the iPhone SE 3 lands, it is expected to carry the same 12MP wide-angle rear camera as the current model, along with the single front camera. The current model has a 7MP front camera, which we’d like to upgrade to 12MP, but we haven’t heard any rumors about it one way or the other. However, since Apple updated the $329 iPad with that camera, it may turn out very well in the iPhone SE 2.
Don’t expect major improvements in camera quality from great new sensors. Apple is likely to tout the improved camera quality of the new iPhone SE, but it will mostly come from the A15’s improved visual processing relative to the A13 in the current second generation iPhone SE. In addition, a report from the Chinese language publication MyDrivers mentioned that the new SE will likely get a night mode.
2022 iPhone SE: Price and Release
We don’t know how much the iPhone SE will cost, only that it should be less expensive than any other iPhone. The iPhone 12 mini currently retails for $699, and the iPhone SE is $399, both offering 64GB of storage. With the inclusion of 5G and associated licensing costs, it’s entirely possible that the iPhone SE price will go up to roughly $449 or $499, but Apple hasn’t increased the cost of the iPhone 12, so it’s unlikely. A report by Investor’s Business Daily said the iPhone SE could start at $299, which could mean Apple will sell an LTE version alongside a 5G version.
Apple is expected to launch the third generation of the iPhone SE at its “Peek Performance” event on March 8. According to Twitter account Reportedly owned by Ming-Chi KuoApple started mass production of the phone in March and estimates sales of 25-30 million units in 2022.


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New York/Mexico City Citi today announced that it will invest more than US$1 billion in its Mexican business, historically known as Banco Nacional de México or Banamex. The investments, which will be completed by 2020, will support the bank's commitment to deliver exceptional customer experiences and to provide expanded offerings to clients. As part of the investment program and as a further sign of Citi's commitment to Mexico, Banamex will be known as Citibanamex going forward. This initiative is in addition to the more than US$1.5 billion Citi committed to invest in Mexico in September 2014.
"Citibanamex has and always will be the Banco Nacional de México," said Michael Corbat, CEO of Citigroup. "These investments in Citibanamex reaffirm our commitment to Mexico and our confidence in its prospects. Our goal is nothing less than to create a state-of-the-art bank in Mexico, fully focused on delivering a richer, smarter, more intuitive experience to everyone who does business with us."
The investments will be directed toward five key areas:
1) Digital Banking: Consistent with Citi's "Mobile First" approach, Citibanamex's investments are designed to create the best virtual banking experience in Mexico. This effort will include improvements and new services and interfaces for Bancanet, MobileApp and Wallet.
2) Improvements to Technology Platforms: Citibanamex will increase its focus on cloud-based solutions; optimize its payments infrastructure; and improve process automation to make interactions between customers and the bank more intuitive and efficient, with enhanced quality and security standards.
3) Branches: Citibanamex will invest in its branch network and create digital branches that offer high-level, personalized advice and smart banking technology. The vast majority of the first 100 digital branches will be launched in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Additional improvements will be made to modernize Citibanamex's entire branch network.
4) ATMs: Citibanamex will add 2,500 new ATMs to its network across the country. 1,500 of these new ATMs will be capable of performing an expanded set of services, including check deposits and payments.
5) Targeted solutions for key customer segments: Citibanamex will improve its offerings for different customer segments, including:
Jane Fraser, CEO of Latin America for Citi, said, "Citibanamex will honor our rich history in the country while acknowledging that together we offer more talent, experience and ideas that will help enable economic growth and progress for Mexico."
Ernesto Torres Cantu, CEO of Citibanamex, said, "Citibanamex – the best of Mexico, the best of the world – represents the pride we feel for our past and the clarity about our future. The Banco Nacional de México has been and will remain the most committed financial institution to Mexico, its people and its businesses."
Citibanamex has nearly 1,500 branches, serves more than 20 million clients, and handles approximately 17.5 million transactions daily. It maintains more than 7,500 ATMs and 5.7 million credit card accounts.
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi.


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Iran and Pakistan agreed on Sunday to start barter trade in rice, build more border trade facilities, helping expedite cross-border passage of trucks, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Trade Abdul Razzaq Dawood said in Teheran.
Both countries also agreed to broaden customs cooperation, Dawood said.
He also said that these measures would help increase the quantum of trade over land.
Earlier, he concluded a meeting with Iranian Minister of Communications and Urban Development Rustam Qasemi.
At the conclusion of the meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, both countries also emphasized upon strengthening trade ties between the two countries.
During the meeting, both sides also discussed the movement of Pakistani trucks from Iran to Turkey and Europe and Iranian trucks to Pakistan and China, a report by IRNA said.
The meeting also reviewed the increase in the number of international flights between Iran and Pakistan, IRNA stated.
Pakistan also called for the reopening of the joint border market at Pishin-Raymond.
On this occasion, Rustam Qasmi said that Iran and Pakistan would sign a final agreement in this regard within a month.
Abdul Razzaq Dawood said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan has emphasized on the development of relations with the countries of the region, especially Iran, which plays an important role in the region.


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Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm has released this news international banner from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which features Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, Domhnall Gleeson’s General Hux and Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma. The film...Show More Summary
First, there was the announcement that Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, was to report directly to Alan Horn, Disney Studio Chief, rather than Marvel Entertainment CEO Isaac Perlmutter. Now, it seems that another big change will be rocking Marvel Studios. BirthMoviesDeath has been letting the word out that the Marvel Creative Committee has disbanded. The […]
Marvel's ultra-successful film division now reports directly to Walt Disney Studios' Chairman and not Marvel.
Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm has released a new photo (via Empire Magazine) from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" featuring Adam Driver as Kylo Ren with his broadsaber. The film also stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill,...Show More Summary
Nick Jonas stops to pose as he arrives at the Radio Disney studios for an interview on Tuesday (August 18) in Los Angeles. The 22-year-old singer/actor is busy promoting his upcoming single “Levels,” which officially drops this Friday, August 21. Nick also opened up about the key to being happy in life. “The secret to [...]
The Walt Disney Studios Short Films Collection, Once Upon a Time, The Blacklist and more! The post This Week on Blu-ray and DVD: August 18, 2015 appeared first on ComingSoon.net.
Disney revealed its newest Live Action projects during its panel titled "Worlds, Galaxies, and Universes: Live Action at the Walt Disney Studios" at the annual Disney D23 Expo.
It's time for a little madness as a sequel of "Alice in Wonderland" is coming. During Walt Disney Studios' D23 weekend, fans got to take a first look of "Alice Through the Looking Glass." The first posters were revealed featuring Johnny Depp, who played the Mad Hatter in the first movie and Mia Wasikowska as Alice.
… READ ON
Preview of upcoming Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm movies The post D23 Expo Live Blog: Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios appeared first on ComingSoon.net.
Colin Trevorrow was confirmed today as director of Star Wars Episode IX. Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced the news today at D23. The film is set for release in 2019. Deadline first reported that Trevorrow was in lineShow More Summary
With news coming straight outta D23, Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm opened the entertainment and media gala confirming writer-director Colin Trevorrow will helm Star Wars: Episode IX. StarWars.com says: Today at D23, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced that writer-director Colin Trevorrow will direct Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set for release in […]
Colin Trevorrow is jumping from one beloved franchise to the next. The Jurassic World director will head up Star Wars: Episode IX. According to the official Star Wars website, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced the news at Disney's D23 fan expo. "This is not a job or an assignment,"... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Colin Trevorrow
At the D23 Expo, Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn announced that Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow will direct Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set to be released in 2019. Read more...
As reported back in July, Colin Trevorrow, director of “Jurassic World,” will indeed direct “Star Wars: Episode IX.” Today at D23, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced that writer-director Colin Trevorrow will direct "Star Wars: Episode IX," which is set for release in 2019. Show More Summary
Newsarama is covering the D23 EXPO 2015 panel "Worlds, Galaxies & Universes: Live Action at Walt Disney Studios."
We finally have our director for "Star Wars: Episode IX"! Colin Trevorrow will be stepping into the director's chair for the ninth installment of the "Star Wars" saga. Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn made the announcement at the studio's annual fan convention D23 Saturday. Show More Summary
Oh, Baloo, I wanna stay with you. Walt Disney Studios has unveiled the first teaser poster for Disney's The Jungle Book, directed by Jon Favreau mostly in motion capture, starring Neel Sethi as Mowgli. The movie was made using mostly motion capture, and apparently the CGI work is "next level", according to SlashFilm's Peter Sciretta. Show More Summary
Day 2 of D23 EXPO’s big ticket item was its “Worlds, Galaxies, and Universes: Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios,” a panel covering Disney’s umbrella of live action properties, including Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm. King of DadShow More Summary
Although these images were released yesterday Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm have provided Latino-Review with high-res versions of those photos from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." The film stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark...Show More Summary


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How Brick-and-Mortars Move Forward
The coronavirus pandemic has transformed brick-and-mortar business, possibly forever. Peter Paine, former eBay and Walmart executive and now head of retail partnerships in the Americas for Cover Genius, checked in with Street Fight to share the strategies physical businesses large and small should prioritize to prepare for the near- and long-term future.
What strategies should brick-and-mortar businesses adopt to keep customers secure and content as they reopen following coronavirus-fueled shutdowns?
More than ever before, consumers are more cautious in all aspects of their lives and will value retailers who can offer them some peace of mind. First and foremost, brick-and-mortar businesses must check with CDC requirements, along with their state and local guidance, recommendations, and enforced laws to make sure they are compliant. Businesses should have the right protection procedures for both customers and employees in place, including social distancing requirements, protective gear (e.g. face masks, gloves), sneeze guard at the register, and limit the number of customers in-store at one time.
They may also take additional precautions such as a full-time cleaning crew that wipes down door handles, cleans checkout areas between customers, and ensures sanitary wipes and hand sanitizers are available for customers to use. These basic services will give customers some peace of mind to entice them to enter stores again.
However, basic is not enough. Consumers will continue to lean toward digital experiences they have gotten used to during the lockdown. Therefore, optimizing their online business will continue to be a top priority for brick-and-mortar stores to ensure that their online capabilities are stable and up to the demand as traffic continues to be high.
Recent research by the Cover Genius analytics team shows an increase of 1,200% in conversion rates for insurance products add-ons. This proves that consumers are now actively looking to protect their valuable purchases when they shop online. This is an act of trust that retailers need to bear in mind when thinking of new ways to keep customers engaged and help them through the uncertain times ahead.
How long-term will the effects of the pandemic on brick-and-mortar businesses be? In what ways will business never be the same?
Some of the most iconic retail brands today — like HP, Trader Joe’s, and Disney — were built during a recession. Especially now, retailers will need to keep up with the new environment that’s dictated by consumers in order to survive and thrive through the next economic downturn. It’s a great time to test new ways of serving customers and creating new opportunities that will bring them real value. With the current pandemic, consumers have been sheltering in place and have become resourceful, learning new ways of shopping. Some consumers likely discovered grocery delivery for the first time, others probably had to explore new retailers at which they’ve never shopped before to find toilet paper and baby formula. A lot of people are learning how curbside pickup works.
Brick-and-mortar retailers will have to broaden how they sell products into new distribution channels to keep their customers engaged. They will also need to come up with new revenue streams, such as add-on services and warranty products to guarantee better margins going forward.
At Street Fight, we cover both small businesses and large many-location brands. How will adapting to the post-pandemic world differ for these two categories?
Many consumers today are more interested in shopping local and supporting businesses close to home because they appreciate the mom-and-pop shop around the corner and don’t want to see them go out of business. Big Red Rooster found in a survey taken in April 2020 that 68% of shoppers that shopped local small businesses recently tipped more than they usually do.
Large retailers will need to learn to be flexible with their operations, finding ways to navigate how their customers want to shop. Consumers will likely want to continue their online shopping behaviors. As such, brands will need to prioritize creating digital experiences that are easy, seamless and most importantly, personalized to make sure they craft engaging relationships with their consumers for the long run.
What would you say to small businesses that would love to hire additional staff and add digital tools but are struggling financially right now? What cheap or free options are available to them?
Small businesses have access to some great free solutions to build a direct-to-consumer ecommerce store with platforms like Shopify and Magento. Another idea is enabling curbside pickup, turning their retail locations into distribution centers, in which case their ecommerce site becomes a catalog of their great product assortments. There are also great marketplace platforms, like Amazon and Facebook marketplace, to quickly list their local products or even enable nationwide shipping. Leveraging site traffic marketplace platforms can help ramp up their business fast.
Which brands are already leading in transforming their businesses as a result of the pandemic? What approaches are they implementing?
Best Buy is a great example of business that is being cautious and responsible with stores opening by appointment-only starting in May. Stores nationwide will have dedicated sales associates greeting customers at the door. With a cleaning crew on staff, appointment areas will be cleaned before and after each appointment, and all Best Buy associates will have to wear protective gear.
Retailers that have remained open during the pandemic are also great examples of how to change in-store operations to serve customers. Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Safeway are just a few of the many that have gotten great press about how they’ve been able to find simple and innovative ways to drive the flow of traffic in-store. Retailers have used simple arrow stickers on the floor as well as passed out snacks and set up entertainment for customers waiting in line outside the store. These simple tactics have helped retail brands create a safer shopping environment while connecting with their customers during a stressful time.
This Q&A was edited for clarity and length.


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After launching its latest Ryzen 7000 gaming laptops, ASUS ROG announced the upcoming launch of its new Intel 13th Gen-powered gaming laptop lineup in the Philippines.
Specifically, this new line of gaming laptops will be unveiled at the 2023 Unleash the Legend Inside Launch Event that will be live streamed via the ROG Philippines Facebook Page on March 21, 2023, at 5:00 pm.
The 13th Generation Intel Core processor lineup promises a new hybrid architecture with up to 24 cores and 32 threads that should deliver up to 46% better performance compared to its previous generation. This should mean better gaming performance across the board.
This new lineup includes the ROG Zephyrus M16 which features the AniMe Matrix display, as well as a Nebula HDR display with mini-LED technology.
Then there’s a Strix series, including the ROG Strix SCAR 18 with an 18-inch QHD 240 Hz Nebula display. There’s also the Strix G series, including the Strix G16 and G18 with big displays and Tri-Fan technology for improved cooling.
Finally, there’s the TUF Gaming F15 that boasts Military Grade durability, a MUX Switch with the latest NVIDIA Advanced Optimus tech for display and graphics optimization.
The ASUS ROG Intel 13th gen-powered gaming laptop lineup launch event will be hosted by shout caster Leo Gaming. Also joining the event is SEA Games representative for Valorant – OASIS Gaming Pro Team, and the team will demonstrate their shooting skills as they showcase the 2023 gaming laptops. The event will also feature Artist and Producer Alisson Shore as well as ROG Hero Kiyo who will do a live performance.
Check out the ASUS Republic of Gamers PH Facebook page for more updates on the 2023 Unleash the Legend Inside Launch.


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Microsoft Windows 8.1 is now available. The latest version is the first major update to Windows 8, which was released last year.
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and our technology analyst just happened to finish writing a guide for parents on this very issue.
Microsoft has introduced its next-generation Surface tablets as the company looks to gain traction in the ever-competitive marketplace.
Pinterest announced Thursday it will introduce advertising in the form of “promoted pins.”
In an unusual move, Disney is asking moviegoers to bring their iPads when they see the re-release of The Little Mermaid in theaters.
Sony is looking to help people improve the quality of the pictures they take with their smartphones.
If you are a Facebook user, you may have notices a message in your inbox announcing the company’s new privacy settings.
A new study shows that pirated movies may actually help create buzz for some smaller films.
As more and more technology makes its way into classrooms, schools and educators are having to determine what is appropriate for students to use.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who took over the helm of the world’s largest software company from founder Bill Gates 13 years ago, will retire within the next 12 months.


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Driving solutions that go beyond the scope of environmental sustainability, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. has consistently been the frontrunner as an energy-efficient organization. As part of the 22nd edition of ‘India’s Top 500 companies’ publication series, the world’s leading knowledge provider, Dun & Bradstreet has presented Crompton as the winner under the “Consumer Durables & Appliances” for this year’s edition. The theme for this year’s awards was ESG: The only way for sustainable and responsible growth, thereby further underlining the company’s commitment to creating a positive and sustainable impact amongst its consumers.
Mr. Sakti Parida – VP, Supply Chain and Chief Procurement Office – Crompton received the award at the event
Speaking about the latest achievement, Mathew Job, CEO & Executive Director – Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. said, “We are absolutely honored to receive this recognition that has acknowledged our efforts and commitment towards a strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) proposition. Today, it is imperative for every business and leader to not just develop an ESG architecture but ensure it is the very essence that drives our strategies. At Crompton, it is our continuous effort to improve and excel in all aspects of our business, ensuring responsible business practices with attention to social and environmental equity.”
India’s Top 500 companies are not only the leaders of the country’s corporate sector but are, in fact, the driving force of our economy. Keeping in mind the enormous scale and influence of these companies, Dun & Bradstreet has been tracking the success stories of these companies for more than two decades through its premier publication, ‘India’s Top 500 Companies‘. As part of this endeavor, Dun & Bradstreet hosted its 2022 edition of ‘India’s Top 500 Companies‘ event to recognize the achievements of the Indian Corporates and award them with the Corporate Awards for 2022. Considering the growing prominence of CSR and social sustainability, for the first time ever, India’s Top 500 Companies were ranked based on their ESG performance.
Businesses today are deeply intertwined with the ever-evolving framework of environmental, social, and governance (ESG). Transforming corporate strategies, companies, today, are driving attention to their ESG proposition because it has the potential to drive long-term value. Since inception, Crompton has recognized its responsibility towards the society and has remained committed to its role as a responsible corporate citizen. Over the years, Crompton has developed and implemented social impact projects to create and enhance shared value through unique, scalable, and sustainable models focusing on Water Conservation, Skill & Entrepreneurship Development and Community Care.
Water Conservation – The Water Conservation Program was designed with a conscious effort to increase capacity for water availability by construction, restoration and rejuvenation of water bodies across drought hit villages in Maharashtra. This resulted in a total 500 water conservation structures built and handed over to local self-government bodies; 9000 farmers benefitted which increased agricultural productivity and over 100 wells recharged for drinking water aiming towards tanker-free villages
Skill Development – The Skill Development Program focuses on creating opportunities for underprivileged youth by imparting vocational skills & placement assistance. Last year, several vocational skill centers across Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha were created by Crompton to help in enhancing employability of the local youth
Community Care – Recognizing that strong communities cannot be built on a poor health infrastructure, Crompton’s Community Care interventions are aimed towards providing improved access and quality services. Over 10,000 children from low income group were given access to state-of-art pediatric care units set up at Government Hospitals in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Additionally, a first of its kind Blood Bank was set up in Baddi Tehsil of Himachal Pradesh that will benefit over 5 lakhs lives who are in need of emergency services. Crompton has thus consistently provided a caring community across target groups while enhancing a comfortable and healthy infrastructure for the modern-day consumer.
Over the years, Crompton has also continuously strived to provide environment-friendly and energy efficient solutions to its consumers. This includes a diverse range of products from energy efficient pumps and ceiling fans to LED lamps as well as its 5 star-rated geysers capable of delivering high-quality performance with low energy consumption. This win reflects the company’s commitment in driving sustainable innovations that make a difference.
With a brand legacy of 80+ years, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. is India’s market leader in the category of fans and residential pumps. Over the years, the organization has continuously strived to produce a range of innovative products that cater to the modern consumer including superior quality and high-performance water heaters, anti-dust fans, antibacterial LED bulbs and a range of other categories like air coolers, food processors like mixer grinders, electric kettles and garment care like irons. The company has further invested in brand and innovation to not only better understand and meet consumer needs, but to also help drive energy efficiency. The consumer business also has a well-established and organized distribution network driven by a strong dealer base across the country offering a wide service network and robust after sales service to its customers.
Having consistently worked towards the development of energy efficient products, the company bagged two prestigious National Energy Consumer Awards (NECA) for the Most Energy Efficient Appliances of the Year 2019 organized by the Bureau of Energy efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power – one for Ceiling Fans for its HS plus model and the other one in the LED Bulb category for its 9-Watt LED bulb. The company has also been featured in Brand Top 75 most valuable Indian brands list for 2020 released by WPP and Kantar. Furthermore, Crompton was also recognized as the Brand of the Decade 2021 by Herald Global and BARC Asia in the Consumer Electrical category.


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V from BTS is the latest ambassador for jewellery house Cartier
Cartier is not the only luxury brand that V is signed on to; he is also a friend of French fashion label Celine.
On Wednesday (Jul 19), it was announced that V (Kim Taehyung) from K-pop band BTS (other members include Jin, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, Suga, Jung Kook) is the newest face for Cartier, starring in the jewellery house's latest Panthere de Cartier campaign.
D’Arnaud Carrez, senior vice president chief marketing officier of Cartier, said: “When it came to embodying the magnetism and aura of the panther, our choice naturally fell on V. He has the look and strength of character. A personality whose choices are guided by creativity as a dancer, musician or art lover, with this style and this elegance that belong only to him.”
In the campaign, V is seen wearing a sculptural panther ring and a panther necklace.
BTS celebrated its 10th year in the music business since their debut earlier in June. While the band has enjoyed immense success, V has also been making his mark with several solo hits that include Stigma, Singularity and Inner Child.
The band announced its hiatus last year, which shocked fans from all around the world. Each member continues to pursue their own solo pet project, while Jin and J-Hope enlisted for their mandatory military obligation last year and this year respectively.
Cartier is not the only luxury label that V is signed on to; he is also a friend of French fashion house Celine.
V joins his bandmates in fronting campaigns for luxury brands: RM for Bottega Veneta, Suga for Valentino, J-Hope for Louis Vuitton, Jimin for Dior as well as Tiffany & Co, and Jung Kook for Calvin Klein.


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Teens continue to abandon social media platform, Facebook, and the platform will be unable to reverse the trend by 2022. However, in an unexpected turn of events, the average age of a Facebook user is beginning to decline.
Between 2020 and 2025, Facebook anticipates they will lose 1.5 million teen users. The decline of Facebook among consumers aged 12 to 17 will continue, with only 35.3 percent of internet users in that age group using the platform in 2022. By 2024, that figure will have fallen to less than one-third.
Teen Social Network Users in the United States, 2020-2025, by Platform (millions)
By 2023, Gen Z will outnumber baby boomers on Facebook. Although Facebook is losing teen users, its user base is still getting younger. Next year, there will be 34.7 million US Gen Z Facebook users versus 33.1 million US baby boomer users, with the gap expected to grow through 2025. The key driver here is aging:
Generation Z is maturing, and as they do, some will join (or rejoin) Facebook. Baby boomers are also getting older and transitioning away from social media.
This article was initially published on eMarketer here.


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Export of Georgian wine increased by 15% in January-May based on year-on-year data. The revenue from wine export reached USD 82.4 million, the National Wine Agency reported.
Georgia exported wine to 55 countries. Export increased to Poland, Lithuania, US, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Sweden.
The top-5 countries are Russia, Ukraine, Poland, China and Kazakhstan. A total of 270 companies exported wine and alcoholic beverages.


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Locust Town Council approves conditional permit for new shopping center
Published 3:58 pm Wednesday, November 15, 2023
At the Thursday meeting of the Locust Town Council, the council unanimously approved an conditional permit request by James Schad for a new shopping center.
The proposed two-story shopping center would be behind the Kentucky Fried Chicken at the corner of James Avenue and Browns Hill Road, including two stories of commercial storefronts and an outdoor atrium connecting the two upper floors in the middle.
Schad spoke at a public hearing conducted during the council meeting about the new shopping center.
“The whole time (the Schads) have been doing business in Locust, they are responsible for a number of incredible projects, and I think this one is going to be a really nice addition to it,” City Manager Cesar Correa said.
Schad said he thought it was a good time to build another shopping center because he constantly gets calls at West Main Plaza about retail space.
The atrium and outdoor seating area, he added, would be a good spot for some more restaurants.
Schad said his favorite thing was landscaping, and the new center would have it as well.
He said he hopes to start construction on the site by the spring of 2024, with completion between six and nine months later.


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Live streaming shopping in the West is like a taxiing plane that never takes off.
The concept of influencers and brands pitching their products to audiences watching on mobile phones is set to become a nearly $500 billion business in China this year, according to Coresight Research. Many fashion insiders have long thought it was only a matter of time before a similar phenomenon occurred in the United States and Europe. Despite the format’s storied history, QVC and HSN still have huge followings in the US, but online livestream sales in the US are expected to hit just $20 billion by 2022. , according to the core site.
Some of the channel’s biggest boosters are rethinking.On August 3rd, Facebook announced that it would be ending live shopping on October 1st. financial times reported that TikTok is pausing the US and European expansion of its QVC-like e-commerce initiative, TikTok Shop, after overwhelming tests in the UK. A TikTok spokesperson told his BoF that he has not paused or slowed the rollout of the TikTok Shop in Europe, but remains focused on the UK.
Gartner Director and Analyst Matt Moorut said: “It just doesn’t live up to the hype.”
The problem isn’t with the core idea, experts say, but with the fashion industry’s lofty expectations and unimaginative execution. Many brands and investors believed that what worked in China could be ported to the West with similar results. said to be growing rapidly. One of them is WhatNot, a live-selling community marketplace, where in July he raised $260 million, worth almost $4 billion. Endeavor recently announced plans for live shopping-enabled New York Fashion Week in partnership with interactive shopping platform AiBUY.
“What we really need is someone to get it right, and I think all these big guys will be back in action,” said Katie Thomas, leader of the Kearney Consumer Institute. .
In Asia, live streaming is a core channel for driving sales. Streaming video is seen more as a marketing tool in the West, where other forms of e-commerce were established before streaming video became popular. Western streaming e-commerce sites also struggle to integrate with the brands they sell. Consumers often have to click into the stream to make a purchase, and payment information is not stored across platforms.
Chinese consumers are also increasingly embracing new forms of online shopping, such as digital wallets that make it easy to shop on multiple platforms. Known as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), influencers lead conversations about products for users looking for deals on various channels. For Western consumers, commerce is more transactional, and relationships with influencers are less likely to be built around the shopping act.
“Expectations were very high that behavior would change on behalf of Western consumers,” Thomas said. “There are many reasons why it works in China.”
China’s retail market is also dominated by big players such as Alibaba, which operates the popular live-streaming platform Taobao Live. No Western retailer has invested so much in this format, and the brand would rather spend the occasional marketing push for his push than expend the sustained effort necessary to get customers accustomed to shopping this way. tend to dabble in live streaming.
“We have a very successful livestream that we did for businesses. We should have it next week at the latest.”
Moorut said today’s perilous economic climate is also preventing brands from embracing technologies of unproven value as revenue drivers. The projected sales of live stream shopping in the West pale in comparison to the advertising sales Facebook can generate.
“Even those who have been testing and learning will try to focus their resources on channels they know will ultimately generate revenue because that is what keeps the light on,” Moorut said. increase.
Live stream shopping may still be popular in the West. Young consumers love video and are increasing their purchasing power, said Adam Pressman, his director of managing retail operations at consulting firm AlixPartners. Discover, buy, and share products on TikTok, and get tips from creators on YouTube.
Platforms still invest in media. Even after Facebook shuts down live shopping, brands can still host events on his Meta-owned Instagram. TikTok hires e-commerce talent, releases advertising tools, and pushes the app to go live. YouTube and Amazon continue to roll out live shopping features and invest in this space. Livestream start-up Bambuser, which just signed a three-year renewal of his partnership with LVMH, says it has seen an increase in both the number of livestreams and viewership. increase. Total commodity value from 2020 to 2021 he will rise by 35%.
Live stream shopping may look different in the West. For one thing, it might mean focusing on small group sessions, where live streamers speak to a few select customers rather than a large audience. It could also be more fragmented rather than dominated by a few platforms like Facebook and TikTok, or tied exclusively to big events like Singles Day.
“Retailers know this is a way to supercharge or enhance their ecommerce game. I see it as a way for retailers to mature,” said Sophie Abrahamsson, President, Americas, Bambuser. says Mr.
And while KOLs with organic audiences are driving sales in China, influencers don’t always make the best livestreamers in the West, says Wenisberg. Salespeople, she said, are likely to be a better fit because they are often more knowledgeable about the product. She also believes livestreaming is particularly useful for beauty brands where livestreamers can provide tutorials and tricks, and influencers already have a strong tradition of building communities over video. (See the condition of pre-owned luxury items such as handbags).
Early experiments with live stream shopping show promise. According to McKinsey, in 2020, Walmart’s livestreamed fashion events using TikTok saw a 25% increase in follower numbers, and German beauty retailer Douglas saw a 40% increase in conversion rates associated with its livestreaming experiment. did. Following Alibaba’s playbook, Amazon used influencer livestreaming to lure consumers into Prime Day deals. Hill House Home uses live streaming to deliver its viral ‘nap dress’ before launch. There, founder and CEO Nell Diamond answers product questions consumers submit via a chat box.
“There’s a market for it. We haven’t come up with a Western version of it yet,” Thomas said.


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The old saw is that millennials may spend a lot of time-consuming media, but they’re far less likely to spend money on it.
But the latest forecasts complicating that narrative that millennials are media cheapskates loath to open up their wallets for content. Millennials in North America are expected to spend $62 billion on media content in 2015 — $750 per person — according to a new report from Deloitte. Nearly half of that spending will go to paid TV services, followed by music, computer games and movies. Still, media companies are facing an environment that’s far easier for people to find free alternatives.
“There’s no digital equivalent to a hamburger or car, but there is one for a CD or book,” said Deloitte Research director Duncan Stewart. “Media companies are under way more pressure.”
Stewart said he expects millennials decrease how much they spend on paid TV services over the next year as more companies launch and attract more people to their digital video services. The launch of a digital-only HBO Go service and Dish Network’s Sling TV streaming, which unbundles ESPN from the cable package, are clear signs of where the industry is headed.
But of the big media formats, newspaper publishers have it the worst: Deloitte projects that the average millennial will pay just $19 on newspapers this year, less than the cost of four Sunday editions of The New York Times. Newspaper companies are also facing a similar money problem on the Web, which is eroding both their advertising revenue and ability to get money directly from readers. And they partially brought that fate upon themselves. “When you have people willing to give their content away for free, charging for it is really hard,” Stewart said.
Deloitte’s projections are just the latest in a long line of attempts to describe and quantify the spending habits of young people, whom analysts and surveys suggest are spending money very differently from previous generations. A recent survey from the Boston Consulting Group (PDF), for example, found that millennials are spending less money perceived as non-essential, such as luxury brands and restaurants, and more money on organic food and other natural products. Millennials are also spending less money on products and more money on experiences, according to a June 2014 survey from Harris Interactive.
Duncan said that media companies can learn a lot from these shifts in spending habits. “It’s not that millennials don’t want to pay for things — it’s just that they don’t want to pay for the things that a lot media companies are making.”
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U.S. has now ratified trade agreement
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives last night voted to approve the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) by a vote of 217-215. The Senate approved the agreement last month.
The agreement will open up new markets for U.S. goods and remove tariffs and barriers on exports to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The agreement will also reward six democracies that have stood up to protectionist pressures from leftist anti-American dictators including Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro.
“Final passage of CAFTA is a victory for consumers everywhere,” said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist. “Not only will the agreement give consumers more choices at lower prices, but it will send a powerful message to the world that the United States stands with its friends against communism in the region.”
In the past year, Congress has also approved free trade agreements with Morocco and Australia.